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Chapter 639
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 640
"This is Mr. Lloyd's way of teaching me, showing care for me. What are you two even blabbering about? Stay out of it and get lost!" Christina and Aspen were stunned. They had been trying to help Stephen, but the head of Glorious Pharmaceuticals was yelling at them instead. Was Andrew really that terrifying? "Dad, please accept my bow!" Stephen suddenly dropped to his knees, calling Andrew 'dad' in a desperate tone. His resentment toward the two women from Stevens Corporation had reached its peak. If it were not for them, he never would have ended up in this mess. He had only agreed to the humiliating poster outside because Aspen had suggested it. That day, Stevens Corporation came to him with three prescriptions, and both parties agreed to work together immediately. However, Aspen added a condition—Stephen had to deal with anyone from Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division. Not only would he not cooperate with them, but anyone from their team who came to Glorious Pha
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 641
"Mr. Brunner, you absolutely don't have to submit to him," Christina snapped angrily. "You're the CEO of Glorious Pharmaceuticals, a leading name in the industry! If you stand tall and refuse to be intimidated, no one can oppress you!" Aspen quickly chimed in, "Mr. Brunner, you can't give in to a thug like him. If you stand up to him, I'll back you to the very end!" Stephen rolled his eyes and said impatiently, "You two are rambling too much. Who told you I was being oppressed or forced to submit?" Christina stared at him, dumbfounded. "Mr. Brunner, are you saying you're doing this willingly? But…" Stephen cut her off with a sharp tone. "No 'but'—I'm doing this willingly, alright? Mr. Lloyd let bygones be bygones and gave me a chance to collaborate. If I can't see an opportunity like this and seize it, Glorious Pharmaceuticals would've been destroyed long ago!" Stephen could not understand what was going through these two women's heads. The underground king of Jayrodale was s
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 642
Stephen had never experienced such an easy negotiation before. There was no hassle, no drawn-out discussions—just a straight green light, clearing the way without obstacles. Andrew stood and said, "Well, if that's settled, we'll be on our way." He turned to Dylan and added, "Dylan, keep an eye on things here with Stephen in the future." Dylan nodded. "Got it, Mr. Lloyd!" Stephen was elated. "Thank you, Mr. Lloyd! I knew something good was going to happen today—I've had this twitching in my eyelid since morning!" Dylan raised a brow and teased, "How do you know that wasn't a sign of bad luck?" Stephen chuckled. "Same difference! Good luck, bad luck—they're two sides of the same coin. I got both today, didn't I?" Andrew smirked in amusement. Businesspeople were always like this—slick, adaptable, and sharp. Stephen had just been disciplined but was already smiling like nothing had happened. Nonetheless, Andrew understood why. Stephen saw a chance to cozy up to Jayrodale'
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 643
"Mr. Brunner, first come, first served. Stevens Corporation approached you first, and we already had an agreement. How can you go back on your word?" Christina tried to stay calm, though her anger simmered just beneath the surface. Aspen's expression hardened as she spoke coldly. "Mr. Brunner, doing business is about trust. Stevens Corporation partnering with you is a win-win deal, but Rhodes Corporation's Pharmaceutical Division is on its last legs. "I heard their formulas were leaked, and the Weller family is squeezing them out. There's no profit there anymore. Are you really going to abandon us for them? Please reconsider!" Stephen sneered. "A bad move? Aspen, I've been through hell and back in the real world while you were still a little girl playing in the dirt. You think you can teach me what's right and wrong?" He continued, "Yes, your pharmaceutical project is impressive, but you've misunderstood something crucial. No matter how good your project is, can it compete with
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 644
"As for why? It's simple," Stephen sneered. "Because you can't recognize his true capabilities while others can. Your understanding is so shallow that you're still stuck questioning the reality." Christina's face flushed with embarrassment as she glared at him. "Mr. Brunner, we're talking business here—there's no need to get personal. Besides, how can you be so sure that what you see is the truth?" Stephen chuckled coldly. "How? Because I'm leagues ahead of you. Glorious Pharmaceuticals crushes your Stevens Corporation in every way. The 'nobody' you keep badmouthing—Mr. Lloyd—is the undisputed king of Jayrodale's underworld. "He owns the biggest, most exclusive spot in town, Moonlit Sanctuary, and he's a board member at Rhodes Corporation. Without Mr. Lloyd propping you up, your company is on the decline, and as for you, Ms. Stevens, your glory days as Jayrodale's 'darling CEO' are over. "Let's be real—who still talks about you in the media? Hardly anyone cares anymore." His
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 645
Marcus had not expected the task of securing a pharmaceutical partner to be handled so easily. "Mr. Lloyd, your moves today have truly impressed me," Marcus said with a grin. "How about I treat you to a night out?" Andrew chuckled. "Mr. Chapman, let's head back to the office first and check on how things are going with Lauren. As for your offer, maybe tomorrow." Marcus nodded enthusiastically. "It's a deal then! You can't back out tomorrow—I insist on helping you unwind and enjoy yourself." Andrew teased, "Mr. Chapman, you always seem so focused on work. I never pegged you as someone who enjoyed going out and having fun. Or is this one of those 'you never really know someone' moments?" Marcus laughed. "You've got it wrong, Mr. Lloyd. Sure, I spend most of my time on work and my daughter, but I know when to take a break and splurge on a good time. What's the point of making all this money if you don't enjoy yourself now and then?" Andrew raised an eyebrow and joked, "Special
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 646
Tiana spoke with an icy tone. "Where are those formulas of yours? I'm guessing that punk Andrew handed you some worthless nonsense just to pacify you." Lauren's face darkened. "Mom, Dr. Lloyd's formulas are highly classified. I can't show it to you yet due to confidentiality. But if you think it's trash, then I'm sorry to say that your prejudice has blinded you. Bane's formulas don't even compare to what Dr. Lloyd provided." Tiana scoffed. "You're letting your attachment to Andrew cloud your judgment. Let me remind you—Bane is a top talent from the Advanced Medical Institute. Whether his formulas are perfect or not, it's far superior to anything Andrew could offer. If Bane's work weren't up to par, then Andrew's would be absolute garbage, not even worth reviewing." Lauren clenched her teeth. "You keep claiming that you're giving Michael and me equal opportunities, but in the end, you're still biased toward him, aren't you?" Tiana's gaze hardened. "Bane's formulas are already in
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 647
Lauren and Michael both fell silent, tension hanging in the air. Tiana gave Lauren a mocking smile. "You really have a knack for siding with outsiders, don't you? What's the matter? Just because Andrew spent a few billion dollars, you feel the need to defend him?" "Listen, Lauren, you're the Rhodes family's heiress. Family interests come before anything else," Tiana continued coldly. "Do you honestly think Andrew threw billions around just because he cares about you? No. He has his own hidden agenda and ambitions." She gave a disdainful scoff. "He wants you. He wants to use you to establish a connection with the Rhodes family. Wake up, Lauren. Don't be so naive." Lauren's face remained emotionless. "I'm fully aware of who truly cares about me. So, I'm sorry, Mom, but I don't agree with you." Tiana's expression hardened. "Whether you agree or not, I don't care anymore. The decision is final. The factories will prioritize Bane and the Pharmaceutical Division's projects. If you
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Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1152
Natasha joked, "Aspen, of all times, you could've walked out, you just had to pick the moment I was getting cozy with my darling. You're not jealous, are you? Trying to ruin the mood on purpose?" Aspen let out a cold laugh. "Madam Vostokoff, you're overthinking it. If you two want to flirt or even start going at it right here, it has nothing to do with me. If you think I was interrupting, then I apologize. I'll leave right now so you two can carry on." Natasha chuckled. "Come on now, Snow Queen, we're all on the same side here. I was just teasing. Don't take it to heart." The icy look on Aspen's face finally faded a little. "I'm heading out. A small firm is requesting investment from Supreme Capital Group, so I'm going to check them out and see if they're worth our time." She threw that out to Andrew with zero warmth, then strutted off, her hips swaying confidently as she left Serenity Villa. Andrew immediately instructed Dylan's crew to follow and keep her safe. Natasha sc
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1151
Dylan and Natasha arrived in Blumedale the same night Andrew's orders were sent back to Jayrodale. They were accompanied by none other than the semi-martial king himself—Reuben. "Mr. Lloyd, that opportunity you mentioned… the one that could set me free—what is it exactly?" Reuben asked eagerly the moment he saw Andrew. Andrew waved his hand and said, "No rush. I haven't figured it out yet, but it won't be long." Reuben held back his excitement and simply nodded, saying nothing more. The more time he spent around Andrew, the more he realized just how unfathomable this man truly was. Back when he followed Elon to storm Jayrodale, he had been taught a brutal lesson. Now, there was not a shred of resentment left in him—only fear and awe. After all, a man who dared to kill a direct descendant of the Haywoods would have no problem ending him with a snap of his fingers. Reuben had only martial skills but no powerful family backing him—if Andrew ever wanted him dead, he would not la
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1150
For Quinton, it had never been just about sleeping with Christina. What excited him more was the thrill—the thrill of a top-tier predator closing in on an ice-cold beauty. To him, conquering a woman like Christina would stroke his ego and validate his inflated sense of self-worth. Unfortunately for him, Christina never felt even a flicker of attraction toward him. At best, they could be called business allies—or to put it bluntly, she only saw him as a temporary tool. Quinton wanted power, possession, dominance. Meanwhile, Christina only wanted leverage—specifically, to use him and his connections to push the Stevens Corporation into Blumedale. … Over at the Goldings family estate, word of the Haywoods' bounty hit hard. Both Richard and Elon were momentarily stunned when they heard. "This kid really doesn't know when to stop," Richard growled. "Now he's provoked the Haywoods and even left a body behind. He's practically asking for death! He's so arrogant that it's disgusti
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1149
The Haywoods' bounty order exploded across Blumedale like a thunderclap. Someone exclaimed, "Holy hell—two elite families teaming up to hunt down one man? Who the hell is this Andrew guy?" Another chimed in, "The Goldings offered 300 million, and now the Haywoods are throwing in half a billion. That's 800 million in total. I mean, damn—if I were an assassin, I'd be tempted!" "With both families issuing kill orders? No way Andrew makes it past today." … Elsewhere, Quinton wasted no time finding Christina and her family. "Christie," he said, barely hiding his glee, "things are about to get interesting. Andrew just caused a major disaster!" He looked positively thrilled at the news. Christina's tone remained cold. "I heard. I really don't know where he got the nerve to kill Seth. That's just ridiculous of him." Irene was playing with a new bracelet, her eyes gleaming as she casually said, "Who cares? Andrew's been arrogant long enough. Finally, someone's putting him in hi
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1148
Aspen said, "You're the one who killed Seth. The Haywoods are going to target you first—so you'd better leave now while you still can!" Andrew said nothing. Instead, he walked toward her slowly, one step at a time. Aspen frowned and instinctively took a step back. The space between them was too close for comfort, and it made her uneasy. However, Andrew did not stop—he kept moving in, ignoring her resistance entirely. Aspen soon found herself backed up against the wall. Her expression turned cold as she snapped, "What are you doing?" Andrew leaned in, towering over her. "Aspen, something's off with you." "What are you talking about?" "You are… worried about my safety, aren't you?" Aspen shoved him hard, her face flushing as she barked, "I wasn't joking just now! If you're not taking this seriously, then just forget I said anything!" Her heart was pounding. For a second, she thought Andrew was going to kiss her. If he had, she would have bitten his tongue off without hes
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1147
Andrew could not figure Aspen out, wondering what the hell was wrong with her now. He had just told her she could go, and she still looked upset. Andrew shook his head and stopped thinking about it. Instead, He pulled out his phone and made a call back to Jayrodale. "Gather your men and head to Blumedale immediately. And bring Reuben with you. Tell him—if he wants his freedom, I can offer him a way out." Reuben Davis was that semi–martial king Elon had once brought to Jayrodale. Under Andrew's control, the man had been training Dylan and Natasha in martial arts. Andrew did not know how the Haywoods would react to Seth's death, but he did not care. No matter what move they made, he would not back down. It was time to bring his core team into Blumedale. If these powerful families wanted to raise the stakes, he would play right along. Suddenly, his phone rang again. Andrew glanced at the caller ID and looked mildly surprised—it was Tiana. "Mrs. Rhodes, what can I do for you?"
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1146
Chantelle said with a smirk. "The moment he found out something happened to you, the look on his face could've scared someone to death." Aspen froze for a second, her heart thumping wildly as she glanced at Andrew walking just ahead. She could not help but wonder if Andrew actually cared whether she lived or died. Chantelle gave a half-smile, half-sigh. "Mr. Lloyd sure seems emotionally invested in you, Ms. Stevens. But, if you don't mind me overstepping—there's something off in your head." Aspen blinked. "Excuse me? Ms. Garcia, what do you mean by that?" Chantelle chuckled softly. "I majored in psychology, both undergrad and grad school. Even with just a little observation, I'd say you're showing classic signs of Stockholm syndrome." Aspen's lips parted slightly, but no words came out. Chantelle studied her with a piercing gaze. "And I can tell you're an intelligent woman. You know you're getting deeper and deeper emotionally involved. But deep down… you don't actually want
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1145
"Y-You actually dared to kill someone?" Chantelle stormed up to Andrew, her chest heaving with rage as she shouted, "You do know that murder is a crime, right?" Andrew replied flatly, "Then go ahead and arrest me. But you saw it too—this dead mutt barged into my company with a gang of thugs and trashed the place. He kidnapped my secretary, tortured her, and tried to get away with it." Chantelle fumed. "You had every right to fight back, but you had no right to kill him, do you understand?" Andrew's voice sharpened with impatience. "Ms. Garcia, that's enough! So what if I killed him? The guy came stomping into my space, and I'm supposed to just roll over and play dead?" Chantelle let out a bitter laugh and hissed, "Andrew, Mr. McCormick favored you. You've got incredible medical skills, and in Blumedale, you were this close to making your mark. "You had a bright future ahead of you—respect, success, everything within reach. But why would you throw it all away like this? Don't y
Rising from the Ashes Chapter 1144
Andrew hissed, "This third slap? No reason at all. I just don't like the look of your face and feel like beating you to death. And this fourth one's for your parents—since they clearly failed to raise you, I'll handle it for them." After the string of brutal slaps, Seth's head was spinning. His ears rang like sirens, and his vision started going black around the edges. "Andrew… I swear…" he gasped, his voice shaky. "I'll kill you. I'll kill you, you arrogant bastard!" However, just as he spat out his threat, a blood-curdling scream ripped from his throat—Andrew had suddenly snapped five of his fingers. "Keep going," Andrew said coldly, his voice like a death sentence. Seth's mouth bled as he glared up with bloodshot eyes. "You're dead. You're so fucking dead… "How dare you treat me like this? My family—everyone in the Haywoods—they'll never let this slide!" His scream pitched into hysteria as Andrew crushed the remaining five fingers on his other hand, rendering both of Se
